Live By Faith

By Kay Heitsch

Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase. ~ MLK Quote ~

We like to know what the end result will be when we step out. But when we walk by faith, we can take the first step even when we don't know what the end result will be.

Our Bible verse says. For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

When we are followers of Jesus, this is how we live. We can step out in faith even though we may not know the end result.

Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.

Who I Am

By Kay Heitsch

I can only be who I am. ~ I Am What I Am Quotes ~

I've read that 10% of people won't like us no matter how nice we are. But I've also read that we are not designed for everyone to like us. Isn't that interesting? We are all unique. We can only be who we are.

Our Bible verse says. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15:10

By God's grace, we were created to be ourselves. If people don't accept that, don't worry. We aren't designed for everyone to like us.

I can only be who I am.

Anyway

By Kay Heitsch

People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. ~ Mother Teresa Quote ~

Grief can drain you of emotions. Trying to understand situations can be emotionally exhausting. But if we decide not to try to figure people out and love them anyway, we can be a lot happier.

Our Bible verse says. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Jesus loves us with all of our imperfections. So we do ourselves a favor by loving other people the same way.

People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

Be Yourself

By Kay Heitsch

Be yourself. Don't worry about what other people are thinking of you. ~ Be Yourself Quotes ~

Aunt Carmeleta gave me this advice when I was a teenager, and I never forgot it. Not everyone will like us, so we just need to be our unique selves.

Our Bible verse says. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

We are fearfully and wonderfully made, so we need to be our unique selves.

Be yourself. Don't worry about what other people are thinking of you.

From Rejoicing to Rejecting

By Kay Heitsch

People change all the time. ~ People Change Quotes ~

Today is Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, the crowds rejoiced and sang Jesus' praises. But it wasn't long before these same people were rejecting Him.

We all go through this experience in life. We have people we love and care about, and believe they feel the same about us. But we find out they changed, and we face rejection. Jesus understands.

Our Bible verse says. The crowds ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Matthew 21:9 NIV

This verse is interesting. It talks about the crowds and those who followed. We all know the story. The crowds not only turned against Jesus, but so did His followers. These were the people who were supposed to love Him. One day they were rejoicing, and the next they rejected Him.

People change all the time.

Acceptance and Love

By Kay Heitsch

Yesterday was Aunt Carmeleta's graveside service and luncheon. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was happy to see close to or more than 100 people there to show their love. The food was delicious and plentiful, and Aunt Carmeleta would have more than approved.

I read the following quote today. "Love is an act of acceptance, that with all our imperfections, we are accepted and loved."

This was my relationship with Aunt Carmeleta. She loved and accepted me with all my imperfections. She put God's love into action toward me, and I'm sure with others, too.

Our Bible verse says. The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Lamentations 3:22

It's wonderful to know God's faithful love never ends.

"Love is an act of acceptance, that with all our imperfections, we are accepted and loved."

Our God Is Awesome

By Kay Heitsch

God will carry you through every storm in your life. And give you the strength to make it. Our God is awesome! ~ Trust God To Bring You Through Quotes ~

We all experience storms in our lives, but we can be assured that God will carry us through every one and give us the strength to make it.

Our Bible verse says. Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD will deliver them from them all. Psalm 34:19

Just because we may be good people doesn't mean we won't suffer many troubles. But our awesome God will deliver us from them all.

God will carry you through every storm in your life and give you the strength to overcome it. Our God is awesome!

Love Never Dies

By Kay Heitsch

Little by little, we let go of loss but never of love. ~ Love Never Dies Quotes ~

Knowing that love never dies can help us through our times of grieving and as we move on with life. Missing someone is sadness wrapped in a blessing because of our relationships with them.

Our Bible verse says. Love never dies. 1 Corinthians 13:8 MSG

What a blessing to know that love never dies. Our love is alive, and our loved ones' love is alive too.

Little by little, we let go of loss but never of love.

God's Timing

By Kay Heitsch

I've noticed several important things happen on the exact dates in my life.

For instance, Todd, my dad, Uncle Mel, and Uncle Fred, who is Aunt Carmeleta's first husband, all died on February 6th. Now, Aunt Carmeleta's graveside service will be held on Noah's birthday.

I find these exact dates interesting for some reason.

Our Bible verses say. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die. Ecclesiastes 3:1&2 NIV

God has a time for everything, including the time for Noah to be born and the time for Aunt Carmeleta to die.

God's Timing! That's life!

Look For

By Kay Heitsch

Look for something positive in each day. Even if some days you have to look a little harder. ~ Look For The Good Quotes ~

When we experience difficult times, it may be challenging to look for something positive. We may need to look aggressively for the good in each day.

Our Bible verse says. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

When we know that God is working everything together for good, we can begin to look for the good He will bring out of our difficult days.

Look for something positive in each day. Even if some days you have to look a little harder.

One Last Time

By Kay Heitsch

I received a call last night from Ken that Aunt Carmeleta had passed on.

I've shared with many of you what a special person Aunt Carmeleta was. I have some sweet and hilarious memories. I was blessed to have a close relationship with her. I called her every Sunday at 4:30 for years.

Last Monday, Ken called after receiving some flowers we had sent. I wanted something cheery to make her smile. I told Aunt Carmeleta I loved her one last time, and she told me she loved me, too.

Our Bible verse says. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

This Bible verse came to my mind this morning. Yes, weeping did last through the night, but joy has come when I think of all my special memories.

Keep A Song In Your Heart

By Kay Heitsch

I walk on the treadmill every morning right after I get up. This helps with my RA to keep me moving. Interestingly, old songs come to mind as I'm walking. I don't usually sing out loud, but I play them over in my mind. It's wonderful how this lifts my spirit!

Our Bible verse says. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19 NIV

We can sing and make music in our hearts to the Lord. When we do, we will find that doing this lifts our spirits and gives us a sense of peace and joy.

Life Hurts

By Kay Heitsch

Life Hurts. God Heals. ~ Tears Quotes ~

We never need to worry. God is never blind to our tears and never deaf to our prayers. Our tears are prayers too. They travel to God. Life hurts, but we need to remember God also heals us everywhere we hurt.

Our Bible verse says. I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. 2 Kings 20:5

God hears our prayers, and He will heal us everywhere we hurt. This is not just physical pain, but mental and emotional too.

Life Hurts. God Heals.

Test Positive

By Kay Heitsch

Make sure you test positive for faith. Keep your distance from doubt, and isolate yourself from fear. Trust in God through it all. ~ Keep Your Trust In The Lord Quotes ~

We would have an extraordinary life if we distanced ourselves from doubt and isolated ourselves from fear. Let's make sure we test positive for faith and keep all of our trust in God.

Our Bible verse says. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

As we put our complete trust in the God of hope, He will fill us with joy and peace. If we put this verse into practice, we will be doing ourselves a favor.

Make sure you test positive for faith. Keep your distance from doubt, and isolate yourself from fear. Trust in God through it all.

God Is Always Working

By Kay Heitsch

Just because we don't see anything happening doesn't mean God is not working. ~ God Is Always Working Quotes ~

When things happen, we often wonder where God is. However, we can be assured that God is always working. Remembering that God is working can help us relax.

Our Bible verse says. But Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I." John 5:17

God does not take a day off. He is always working, even though we don't see everything He does.

Just because we don't see anything happening doesn't mean God is not working.

With God

By Kay Heitsch

Anything is possible with God. ~ With God Quotes ~

I believe this! If you read the Bible, you will see some incredible miracles. Will everything I want happen? No, but that does not mean that God can't do it. I have seen God do things I never would have thought possible in my life.

Our Bible verse says. Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

We should never put God in our little box. God can do what people can't. With God, all things are possible.

Anything is possible with God.

A Gift From God

By Kay Heitsch

A true friend is a gift from God. ~ Relationship Quotes ~

My Aunt Carmeleta is a gift from God. In reality, Aunt Carmeleta and I are not blood relatives. She was married to my mom's brother, Fred, and Aunt Carmeleta married Ken when Fred died.

It has never mattered; Aunt Carmeleta and I have stayed close. In my teen years, AC gave me some great advice. When people talked badly about me, she said, "Just ignore them and be yourself." Those words were simple, but they meant a lot. It didn't matter, Aunt Carmeleta accepted me as I was. She liked me being me!

Our Bible verse says. The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. A sweet friendship refreshes the soul. Proverbs 27:9

Aunt Carmeleta's friendship and advice have been sweet over all these years. Aunt Carmeleta has been a true friend and God-given gift.

Hospice

By Kay Heitsch

Keep calm and trust God. ~ Keep Calm Quotes ~

Yesterday, while we were eating out, I received a call from Ken, Aunt Carmeleta's husband. Ken said Aunt Carmeleta had taken a turn for the worse and she was unable to walk. He was having Hospice come to the house and help out.

I call Aunt Carmeleta and Ken every Sunday afternoon. AC has had her ups and downs, as has Ken; that's a fact. However, Ken was still taking her to the donut shop last week, and they met with friends there daily.

Even though I knew this was coming, I am still sad. Please pray for Ken and Aunt Carmeleta as they go through this transition.

Our Bible verse says. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

I need to apply this verse. Although my heart is troubled and upset, I know God will give me His peace.

Keep calm and trust God.